The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-31
YESTERDAYS SECOND EDITION.
THE following items of news appeared in our
Second Edition of Sunday:l
The Story of stevert,. Homes.

The Story of Stewards Bones.
New YORK. Oct. 29-The mystery which has
SO long enveloped the fate of the body of the
millionaire dry goods dealer. Alexander L.
Stewart. forms the subject of a chapter in Su-
perintendent George W. Wallincs book. THE
Recollections of a New York Chief of
Police" which is soon to be published.
The ex-superntendent processes TO give the
only true story of the stealing of the body,
and also alleges tn st the body was subsequently,
returned to representatives of Judge Hilton.
The remains were buried in ST. Marks church
yard, at the corner of Second avenue and Tenth
street, IN an underground vault the entrance to
which was covered by fagstone, which, in
turn. was sodded over, even with the surround
cence OF Its location. Judge Hilton had
discovered evidences that the vault
had been tempered with and set watch: but,
as nothing further transpired. the watch was
withdrawn and three nights later-that is. on the
night of Nov. g. or the morning of Nov. Z, 1873,
the vault was broken open and The remains sto-
that the sexton his assistant had guilty
knowledge of the transaction; but this
offered reward of s s as
turn of the body and the conviction
OF the grave-robbers. The first clew came from
Gen; Patrick Jones. ex-postmaster of New
iork, who notified Walling that ex-solcier
who had served under him claimed to know
something about the Stewart body. aud with
proper announcement would give infor nation
leading to its recovery. The superin-
tendent submitted the offer to Judge Hilton,
who declared he would never paw cent for MIR.
Stewards bones unless they came accompanied
by the thieves In irons General Jones per-
sistent, and wanted work Up the and
arrange for buying the body. He showed let
ters from the thieves and few days later gave
to the police package expressed to him from
Boston, containing coffin plato which was
Identified by the eneraver who had
done the work. To complete their iden-
LITIGATION, the robbers sent a pisce of
paper that fitted exactly the hole in the velvet
cover of the coffin cut out by the thieves when
no vyn nnnnu a1 g rha
hands of Sexton Hanill, and the CO ffi plate is
at police headquarters. Judge Hilton remained
unalterable, and the case dropped by the
authorities, but continued by private detectives.
Mrs. Stewart differed from her counsel, and
strongly wished to recover the body Learning
TINS fact, the robbers opened CORRESPONDENCE
with her directly. No trace of the BODY CIR
thieves was found until January, 1882, when
Gen. Jones called at headquarters He brought
with him a parcel which contained the silver
knobs and several of the handles belonging TO
the coffin in which the body had been buried
He also showed some letters which he had
eeived. They purported to have been
written in Canada, and were signed by ..Henry
G. Romano" With the first letter hundred
dollar bill was inelosed retainer for him to
act as attorney for the return OF the body upon
the payment OF $3.50, 600. The letter then went
to tell the hour at which the body was taken
how 1t was inclosed in zInc-lined trunk and
taken to Canada and buried. 1t said the features
perfectly preserved, except the eyes,
This the letter which inclosed the
bit of corresponding to the size of the hole
In the velvet, ana promised IL further proof
required to send the coffin plate upon the inser-
ton in the New York Herald of these
words, "Canada-Send p. Counsel" This was
done. and under date of Boston, Jan. 81, 1879, a
letter came, saying the plate was sent from
there to avoid the scrutiny of customs officials
on the Canadian border. The plate was received
in case the relatives were ready to negotiate for
the remains, to insert this personal in the Her
aid: ''Canada-Will DO business Counsel"
This was done at Judge Hilion's request The
reply which came from Boston. t.n the 1lth of
February. set forth the terms upon which the
body would be restored. They were as follows:
Firae-The amount to be LAID shall be $780,
600.
Second-The body will be delivered to your.
self and Judge Hilton within twenty five miles of
the city of Montreal, and no other persons shall
be present.
Third-The money ia be placed in your hands,
or under your control until Judge Hilton Is fully
sentative.
Fourth-Both parties to maintain forever an
un6roken silence in regard TO the transaction.
Judge Hilton refused to agree to the terms
proposed, and further declined to ne
cotiate through the medium of ''per-
ssn 80 c lorraine was then. writ
OF the condition of things. His reply soon
received. orde ring AIr. Jones break off all
communication with Judge Hilton and open me-
gotiations With Mrs Stewart No notice was
taken of th IS request but IN March. Judge Hill
ton made an offer of $2o. 900 for the body. Gem
erai Jones made the fact known to Romaine.
closed the correspondence.
The robbers. becoming discouraged.
offered to sell the body for 500 900. Mrs.
Stewart willing, and ordered her repre-
sentatives to pay the amount. They delayed
matters until the figure reduced to $40. OOO
which was accepted. The conditions Of the
With the money was, to leave New
Yors; city at 10 P; NJ, alone, in a
one horse wagon, and drive into Westchester
c aunty. along lonely road. which was indicated
On a map sent by the thieves. Some time before
morning. if the man was acting in good faith
aY nes ss nons b. followed
given further directions A young |
relative of Mrs. Stewart undertook the !
hazardous errand. Two or three times during
the night he was certain that he closely
watched, but it 3 o'clock when a masked |
horseman rode mp, gave the signal agreed on |
and turned the buggy up lonely lane. The |
strange visitor here left him directing him 70 |
drive on. At the end of another mile he became |
aware that another wagon was blocking the |
way. He paused. masked man promptlv |
appeared and brought forward bag to his
buggy, saying:
Here it is; where's the money!"
where's the proof of identitya" asked the
messenger, as the bag containing the mortal re-
mains of A. 7. Stewart lifted into the
buggy.
Here" said the other. holding up an irregu-
lar bit of velvet and opening bulls eye lantern
with click. The piece was compared with
bit OF paper OF the same shape which the New
Yorker had brought with him to this lonely
spot
Come hurry up," was the command
The messenger obeyed by producing the !
money. and the robbers retired few feet and
counted 1t by the light of their lanterns. Then
they moved off to their vehicle and the messe a
ger of Mrs. Stewart drove back the way he had
come.
The next night freight went out to Gar
len City, containing nothing except a trunk
Ind on 1t sat a man who had spent the previous
night ID the lonellest part Of Westc hester
county. An empty coffin had been alres.dy de-
posted In the Cathedral and at the dead of night
.wo men transferred the body to it from the
runk. They then placed the coffin irl an mac
'esslole vault beneath the aome If anyone
hould ever again touch. I'm hid6en the vault
which holds the homes of the merchant million
ire. the touch would release a hidden spring
which would shake the chimes in the tower and
send an instant alarm threughout the town.